U.S. Mint Begins Selling Trump $1 Coins. Are They Legal?
Trump is the first sitting president in a century to appear on a U.S. coin, reviving questions about whether the practice is legal.
On July 15, 2026, the U.S. Mint announced the sale of $1 coins featuring the likeness of President Donald Trump, marking the first time a living president has appeared on U.S. currency. The commemorative, gold-colored coins, celebrating the nation's semiquincentennial, will have Trump's portrait on one side, along with inscriptions such as "LIBERTY," "IN GOD WE TRUST," and "1776 ~ 2026." On the reverse side, the coins depict the presidential seal and inscriptions of "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" and "ONE DOLLAR."
The Mint produced 250,000 of these coins on July 4 in Philadelphia, with a special "July 4th" privy mark. They are available in 25-coin rolls for $61 or 100-coin bags for $154.50, with a limit of two per household through Thursday. While sold as numismatic products at a premium, these coins are legal tender.
However, Democratic lawmakers and coin collectors have raised concerns about the legality of displaying a living president's face on currency, citing federal law that prohibits portraits of living individuals on U.S. coins and securities. A bill was introduced in December 2025 to block Trump's plans, with several senators expressing opposition, citing historical precedents and the contradiction of the war for independence from kings.
Despite these concerns, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent argued that there is precedent for Trump's likeness on the coin, referring to the Circulating Collectible Coin Redesign Act of 2020, which enables the Mint to create coins emblematic of the United States to celebrate its 250th anniversary.
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